If you describe someone as devious you do not like them because you think they are dishonest and like to keep things secret, often in a complicated way.
[disapproval]
Newman was devious, prepared to say one thing in print and another in private.
By devious means she tracked down the other woman.
Synonyms: sly, scheming, calculating, tricky More Synonyms of devious
deviousnessuncountable noun
...the deviousness of drug traffickers.
2. graded adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A devious route or path to a place involves many changes in direction, rather than being as straight and direct as possible.
[formal]
He followed a devious route.
Synonyms: indirect, roundabout, wandering, crooked More Synonyms of devious
devious in British English
(ˈdiːvɪəs)
adjective
1.
not sincere or candid; deceitful; underhand
2.
(of a route or course of action) rambling; indirect; roundabout
3.
going astray from a proper or accepted way; erring
Derived forms
deviously (ˈdeviously)
adverb
deviousness (ˈdeviousness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin dēvius lying to one side of the road, from de- + via road
devious in American English
(ˈdiviəs)
adjective
1.
not in a straight path; roundabout; winding
2.
deviating from the proper or usual course; going astray
3.
not straightforward or frank; deceiving
Derived forms
deviously (ˈdeviously)
adverb
deviousness (ˈdeviousness)
noun
Word origin
L devius < de-, off, from + via, road: see via
Examples of 'devious' in a sentence
devious
And to stop dreaming up devious ways of subverting the public will.
The Sun (2016)
Unless, that is, you have some other devious plan in mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The result is a game that rewards fast thinking and devious tactics.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
One of them proposes a devious plan.
Jonathan Wright Ambassadors: From Ancient Greece to the Nation State (2006)
It is willing to be underhand and devious.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's a devious and underhand tactic.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He knows about devious tactics.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Or thought I had some devious plan to cheat him which he could not fathom.
John Fisher Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing (2006)
The judge called her'a very devious and dishonest young woman '.
The Sun (2013)
As awareness of the trick has grown, the conmen have been using increasingly devious tactics to stay one step ahead of the banks and the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
After all, they keep thinking of new and devious ways to make us part with our hard-earnedcash.
The Sun (2009)
We can't gauge how steady his nerve is, but nor do we know just how devious his plan might be.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It's made me devious and dishonest because I will do anything to find a way to pluck hairs and get that sense of relief.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
devious
British English: devious ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as devious you do not like them because you think they are dishonest and like to keep things secret.
He was devious, prepared to say one thing in print and another in private.
American English: devious
Brazilian Portuguese: desleal
Chinese: 狡诈的
European Spanish: taimado
French: retors
German: verschlagen
Italian: subdolo
Japanese: ひねくれた
Korean: 기만적인
European Portuguese: desleal
Latin American Spanish: taimado
Chinese translation of 'devious'
devious
(ˈdiːvɪəs)
adj
[person, mind]不光明正大的 (bù guāngmíng zhèngdà de)
[route, path]迂回(迴)的 (yūhuí de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
insincere and dishonest
She tracked down the other woman by devious means.
Synonyms
sly
He is devious, sly and manipulative.
scheming
a cold, scheming villain
calculating
He is a cool, calculating and clever criminal.
tricky
They could encounter some tricky political manoeuvring.
crooked (informal)
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.
indirect
treacherous
dishonest
He had become rich by dishonest means.
wily
He is an experienced and wily old statesman.
insidious
They focus on overt racism rather than insidious aspects of racism.
evasive
He was evasive about the circumstances of their first meeting.
deceitful
The ambassador called the report deceitful and misleading.
underhand
The Prime Minister had been involved in underhand financial deals.
insincere
He found himself surrounded by insincere flattery.
surreptitious
They had several surreptitious conversations.
double-dealing
Slimy, double-dealing politicians have betrayed us all.
not straightforward
Opposites
direct
,
straight
,
frank
,
straightforward
,
blunt
,
honest
,
downright
,
candid
,
forthright
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of a route or course of action) indirect
He followed a devious route.
Synonyms
indirect
The goods went by a rather indirect route.
roundabout
a roundabout route
wandering
crooked
the crooked line of his broken nose
rambling
He wrote a rambling letter to his sister.
tortuous
long and tortuous negotiations
deviating
circuitous
They were taken on a circuitous route home.
excursive
Opposites
direct
,
straight
,
straightforward
,
forthright
,
unswerving
,
undeviating
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calculating
Definition
selfishly scheming
He is a cool, calculating and clever criminal.
Synonyms
scheming,
designing,
sharp,
shrewd,
cunning,
contriving,
sly,
canny,
devious,
manipulative,
crafty,
Machiavellian,
politic,
cautious
in the sense of circuitous
Definition
indirect and lengthy
They were taken on a circuitous route home.
Synonyms
indirect,
winding,
rambling,
roundabout,
meandering,
tortuous,
labyrinthine,
ambagious (archaic)
in the sense of crooked
Definition
dishonest or illegal
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.